Dougherty landmark the highlight of frustrating CI campaign

Chris Dougherty provided the outstanding individual story of CI’s season, the quietly spoken left-hander passing the remarkable 10,000-run landmark for the Belfast club during another prolific summer.

For CI collectively, however, 2026 will be remembered as something of a missed opportunity. A disappointing seventh-place finish meant they failed to make the top-six split and, with no relegation in operation, the second half of the Premiership campaign inevitably lacked some of the edge and intensity normally associated with a battle for survival.

Dougherty certainly never lacked motivation. He amassed 930 runs at an average of 58.12, comfortably topping the CI aggregates, with eight half-centuries and a century.

Fittingly, that hundred was the innings which carried him through 10,000 runs for the club. Dougherty struck 125 against Cliftonville Academy at Belmont, sharing a 225-run partnership with captain John Matchett as CI won a thriller by 13 runs. It was his 14th century since joining CI from Brigade in 2012. 

It is a remarkable testament to Dougherty’s quality, loyalty and longevity. Year after year he has remained one of the most dependable batsmen in the NCU, and at 930 runs he was again comfortably CI’s leading scorer.

Charles Swart was next with 600 runs at 30, while John Matchett accumulated 464, including a century. Paddy Beverland contributed 415 and Jake Egan 381, the latter also producing a season-best 94.

With the ball, Jacob Mulder was in a class of his own. The Ireland international claimed 41 wickets at just 12.15, conceding only 3.23 runs per over and recording a best of five for 16.

Matchett completed a productive all-round campaign with 26 wickets, while Ben Snell took 25, Alex Armstrong 24 and Carson McCullough 23. Sathish Suresh added another 20, giving CI plenty of bowling depth.

Seventh place will disappoint a club with CI’s ambitions, and the absence of relegation meant there was little meaningful jeopardy once the top six had escaped. Yet Dougherty’s landmark ensured the season still contained something genuinely memorable — a milestone few club cricketers ever approach, never mind achieve.

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